This village, to be called Mahanaim, is slowly coming to life. Shook Kelley has created a master plan, with grading to soon be underway for the village center. Working with prominent experts and institutions in sustainable design, a new form of culturally and environmentally responsive housing is taking conceptual shape. Scholarship students are studying at Johnston C. Smith University in Charlotte, in anticipation of giving back to their native Haiti. And, a new church for Haiti Mission Services, the partner of Josephs Exchange, has been designed and funding is being sought.

As with most human endeavors that have lasting value, the contributions of many, sustained by patience over an extended period of time, will be required if this noble effort is to succeed. This is placemaking at its most elemental, and its most profound. We at Shook Kelley continue to be humbled by the challenge.